Vehicle-wheel.



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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, I916. LQSSJ 13w Patent-ed Apr. 16,1918. 2 EEEEEEEEEEEE s.

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VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICA 191s. l,263,1 13 A Patented Apr. 16, 1918. 2 ssssss -s EEEE 2.

WTED $TATE$ PATENT canton.

THOMAS nrronus, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO onannor'rn c. RHODUS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16,1918.

Application filed. February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79,227.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS RHODUS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleWheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of vehicle wheels in which the annular tread member is rigid and is yieldingly connected to inner or hub member by resilient intermediate means, and has for its various obber of the wheel, in an effective and very substantial manner.

To provide means for individually connecting the series of sectors or blocks comprising the annular tread member of the wheel together in assembled relation, capable of ready disassembly when required.

To provide an efficient structural association of parts whereby a minimum degree of resilientresistance is provided, when minimum loads are imposed, with a change to an increased degree of resilient resistance when maximum loads are imposed.

To provide a structural formation and as sociation of parts by means of which the an nular holding rings of the sectional tread structure are adapted to protect the projecting ends of the clamping bolts from injury in actual use, and with which an efficient multiple bearing of the holding rings upon the sectional tread structure is proannular holding rings and the bolts from.

injury in actual use.

'lfo provide in connection with the sec- ,tional treadfstructure of the wheel, means.

for efiecting increased tractional engage? ment between the perimeter of the tread member and the roadway. All as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a plan View of a wheel structure illustrating the general arrangement of parts in the present improvement.

Fig. 2, is an elevation of the same with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail transverse section.

Fig. 4, is a detached perspective view of associated parts of the annular tread member. Y

Fig. 5, is a detail horizontal section on line ww, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, is a detached perspective view illustrating the connection between a spoke and the hub portion of the wheel.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

the hub or inner member of the wheel structure, which is preferably formed with a pair of spaced collars or circular rims or flanges 2 between which the inner ends of the series of resilient spokes 3 are clamped and held.

The resilient spokes 8 are formed of bars or strips of resilient material, preferably spring steel, and constitute the resilient means by which the wheel tread 4: is operatively associated with the wheel hub 1 to absorb the varying impacts to which the Wheel tread is exposed in use upon roadways.

One part of the present invention involves means Ior efiecting a substantial and readily detachable connection between the hub 1 and the inner ends of the spokes 3, and comprises a detail structural formationof parts as follows 5 designates a pair of opposed notches or recesses formed in the opposite edges of the spokes 3 and near the inner ends of the same.

6 designates a pair of annular rims or disks arranged inside the collars or flanges 2 of the hub, and formed with central orifices adapted to fit the central cylindrical perimeter of the hub 1, as shown in Fig. 3. In the present construction, each of the disks 6 is formed with circular series of inner and outer notches or recesses 7, separated by a series of intermediate bars or webs 8, the

arrangementbeing radial as shown. The bars or webs 8 are of a size corresponding with the before described notches 5 of the pokes, and fit th same in an engaged on dition of the parts, as shown in Fig. 3. With the described construction a simple andsubstantial attachment of the parts is attained,

and the usual transverse holding bolts 9 are utilized as the means for securing the parts in assembled relation, while permitting a ready disassembly when required.

In the present structure the tread member 4 aforesaid, comprises a plurality of sector shape sections or blocks, formed of any usual and suitable wear resisting material, with their abutting portions formed with adjoining contact faces preferably arranged on lines radial with the axisof the wheel structure and another part of the present improvement involves a structural formation of the individual sections or blocks, as follows 10 designates recesses or grooves formed in the opposite sides of each section or block aforesaid, for engagement with the pair of opposed clamping and holding rings 11 hereinafter described in detail, and the depth of said recesses is preferably greater than the width of its associated ring'll so that the series of tread sections or blocks may overhang and protect said rings, as illus trated more particularly in Fig. 3. In the most effective form of the recesses or grooves 10, the bearing faces thereof are formed with inner and outer inclined or wedge shape bearin aortions 12 and 13 se Qarated b an intermediate and preferably plane surface l-l, as shown.

'15 designates elongated passages, having a radial disposition in the'circular tread structure, and formed in more or less of the individual tread sections or blocks, to receive the transverse bolts 16, by which the associated parts of the tread member 4 are adjusted and clamped together. The elongated passages 15 are preferably formed in the'recesses or grooves 10 of the tread sections or blocks so as to connect grooves 10 through the blocks in line with the plane surfaces 1iand intermediate of the inclined or wedge shaped bearing surfaces 12 and 13 of said blocks as shown in Fig. 3.

17 designates transverse grooves or channels formedin'the before described preferably parallel abutting faces of the series of tread sections or blocks with pairs thereof in opposed'faces 1n register, to receive transverse key bars 18 adapted to be driven transversely into place to hold the series of tread blocksin assembled relation in cases Where thehold'ing rings 11 aforesaid, are removed inmzikingrepairs, replacements, etc. In the preferred constructiom'each of the key bars l8 is formed with sharp side edges or flangesl?)jadapted to bite into the material of the tread sections or blocks, as-the key bars are driven-laterally into place to efiect a strong connection.

20 designates radial slots formed in more or less of the tread sections or blocks, and preferably in the adjoining contact faces of said blocks, so that the individual slot in one block will register with a like individual slot in an adjoining block, to constitute a single receiving slot for the outer end of a'spoke 3 of the structure. The radial slots 20 are formed in the mid-width of the tread blocks and are separated from the before described inclined outer sides of the same by intervening walls 21, so that the radial movement of the spokes may take place without frictional interference on the part of the pair of holding rings 11 above described. Said slots 20 extend a distance outward and beyond the outer ends of the spokes 3, so that there may be independent radial movement of the parts in actual use, and more especially in the case of the spokes, as they assume a vertical and approximately vertical position, and so that the load imposed will be wholly assumed by such spokes as are not in a vertical position, with the aforesaid vertical spokes free to -move in their recesses without any load imposed.

Another part of the present improvement consists in making some and preferably alternate'slots 20of a greater width than'the companion slots '20, with a view-to permit a corresponding sidewise independent movement of the spokes in said wider slots before a bearing is reached with a side of a wider slot 20. The purpose or function is to have the spokes in the narrower slots 20 assume the lighter loads imposed in actual use, and with a maximum load imposed to have both the spokes of the narrower and wider slots assume such load.

22 designates individual grooves or scores formed in the perimeter or tread surface of each individual tread section or block aforesaid, with a View to provide inc'reasedtractionor adhesion in actual use,-and'to such end the grooves or scores 22 will have an oblique arrangement, with the grooves of adjacent tread blocks having a converging disposition as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 11

The pair of opposed connecting and-holding rings 11, heretofore referred to, have a T-shape in cross-section, and is arranged'to provide an outerhorizontal web 23"and a central vertical web 24, with the inner ends of both webs 23,24,- formed for individual bearing upon theinclined bearing portions 12 and 13 of the tread sections or blocks,"and

-with saidbeari'ngsattheopposite sides of the transverse clamping bolts '16, as illustrated more particularly in Fi 3. With the described construction, the outer por tion of the horizontal-webs 23soverhangs the heads of the bolts 16, to protectthe same from i j Q 2: 'de gna te elongated slots havingv a radial disposition in the vertical web 24 i the respective holding rings 11, and adapted to receive the bolts 16 aforesaid, in a manner which admits of independent radial movement of the parts as an adjustment 0 the same is made.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wheel, the combination of a hub,

an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said series of blocks, and a series of resilient spokes between the tread memher and the hub aforesaid, one end of said spokes extending movably into receiving recesses in said blocks and adapted for unrestricted downward movement when in a vertical position above the hub, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wheel, the combination of a wheel center, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks secured rigidly by a pair of holding rings spaced apart by said blocks, and a series of individual connecting means resiliently connecting said wheel center and said blocks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks, and spokes between the tread member and the hub, said spokes extending into receiving recesses in said blocks, said.

recesses having difl'erent dimensions, substantially'as set forth.

1. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said series of blocks, and a series of resilient spokes between the tread member and the hub aforesaid, one end of saidspokes extending movably into recesses formed in some of said blocks, the sides of said recesses being adaptedtohold said spokes from contact against said rings, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said series of blocks, each of said rings being formed with a depressed part providing two projecting contact faces adapted for contact with the inclined planes of said blocks, and intermediate means resiliently connecting the tread member and hub aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of February, 1916.

THOMAS RI-IODUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

